To the extent that research on Vietnamese adolescents has been conducted, it
has been concerned with unprotected and unsanctioned sexual activity and its health
consequences, namely abortion and sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV.
The question we pose is whether this concern is warranted. Is the population com-
munity justified in focusing its attention on early sexual activity and HIV risk? Even
if the sexual behavior of young people can be considered problematic, are there
perhaps other aspects of young people’s lives that should give us greater pause? The
paper reviews the literature on adolescent sexual behavior in Vietnam and analyzes
data on premarital sex and reproductive behavior from a 1999 survey conducted in
six provinces among nearly 1,500 adolescent boys and girls aged 15–22. Data on
other aspects of young people’s lives are summarized, in particular schooling and
work, in order to put the sexual activity data in perspective. We conclude that the
lack of adequate employment opportunities may be more of a threat to adolescent
reproductive health than risky sexual behaviors per se—a situation that effective
economic policies can remedy.
